Surname Zukov - Meaning and Origin
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Zukov: What does the surname Zukov mean?
The last name Zukov is an occupational surname of Slavic origin, derived from the word "Zuk", meaning "corncob". It is likely that the ancestral form of the name was Russian, although the exact form and origin are uncertain.
Zukov was likely either a nickname or an occupational name given to someone who sold corn. This was an important commodity to the Slavic people as it was one of their main sources of nutrition and was also used to make breads and porridges.
It may have also been a surname given to people who lived close to corn fields or an area where corn was harvested. As a profession, Zukov would have been a well-respected position in society, as it provided food for people during the harsh winter months.
The spelling of the surname has changed over time; the original form may have been "Zukoff" or "Zukov". Variants of the name Zukov also include Zukow, Zuk, and Zukav.
Many people bearing the Zukov last name can now be found in the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The name is also carried by some prominent figures, such as Soviet-era General Gennadi Zukov and the Olympic gymnast Alexander Zukov.
Order DNA origin analysisZukov: Where does the name Zukov come from?
The last name Zukov is most common today in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. It is derived from the ancient Slavic word "zuk," which means "swan," and the patronymic "-ov," making Zukov a patronymic name meaning "son of Zuk."
The frequency of the last name Zukov is higher in Russia than in other countries of the former Soviet Union. According to The Science of Surnames, the Zukov surname is the 119th most common surname with 15,265 individuals in the 2010 census of Russia. It's prevalent mainly in the Central, Northwestern, and Volga regions of Russia, as well as in the nearby Ukrainian region of Chernihiv.
In Belarus, the Zukov surname is among the top 20 most common surnames, ranking 14th with 8,717 individuals in the 2009 census. In Ukraine, the Zukov surname is ranked 187th, with 6,248 individuals in the 2009 census.
Outside of the former Soviet Union, the surname Zukov has a lower prevalence. According to the Encyclopedia of European Surnames, the Zukov surname is present in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, and elsewhere. It is also present in the United States, mainly among the descendants of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants who started arriving in the late 19th century, and its relative frequency has been increasing in recent decades.